Winter 2023
Our bird survey team completed the census at Silcock Street Reserve and identified 64 species during the morning. Highlights included seeing all 3 species of Fairy Wrens known at the site (Superb, Variegated and Red-backed Wrens). Very active and vocal Brown Honeyeaters seemed to cover the entire site and getting ready for the breeding season! Another highlight was seeing four Golden-headed Cisticolas out of the reeds and putting on a show. The next survey is scheduled for 25 October 2023.
Autumn 2023: Supplementary trip to survey waders Hays Inlet
The bird survey team for Silcock and Hays Inlet conducted a supplementary survey targeting waders at low tide in Hays Inlet. Along the way they spotted to new birds in the Silcock Street Reserve including the Azure Kingfisher and the Rufous Shrikethrush. The real surprise to the team occurred at the edge of Hays Inlet. Out on the exposed middle banks were hundreds of wading birds feeding frantically in the soft rich mud. At this time of the year many waders are heading off to Northern Asia for their breeding season, and we were all pleasantly surprised to see so many migratory waders taking on some final fuel before they take off! Many of the waders were already dressed in their breeding plumage including the deep red of the Bar-tailed Godwits and the spectacular gold and black of the golden plovers. The survey is in its eight year of quarterly sessions and four more birds were recorded for the first time in Hays Inlet including the Lesser Sand Plover, the Pacific Golden Plover the Balck-tailed Godwit and the Sandpiper Curlew. Overall 6 new species sighted for the first time. This ongoing survey highlights the value of our wetlands, including the intertidal flats of Hays Inlet.
Summer 2023
Our bird survey team completed the summer survey at Silcock Street Reserve (Hays Inlet). Although early in the morning, it was still a hot day with many of the resident birds settled down in their shady areas. They observed 56 species of birds, including the Pheasant Coucal, juvenile Dusky Moorhens and the highlight a female Mistletoe Bird at it's nest.
Spring 2022
Winter 2022
Our bird survey team completed the winter survey at the Silcock Street Reserve (Hays Inlet) observing 56 species. Some of the highlights included close encounters with a Spangled Drongo and a display from Golden-headed Cisticolas, who spend most of their time in darting amongst the reeds of the waterways and lagoons. We also observed over 300 black-winged Stilts roosting on a slightly submerged sandbank in the middle of Hays Inlet. This reminds us of the importance of this inlet providing a resting site at high tide for our water birds including the migratory waders that will return from the Arctic Circle to Moreton Bay in the late spring (September/October). The program commenced in October 2015 and was the 28th quarterly survey conducted for the site. A total of 138 species of bird has been observed using the reserve and Hays Inlet.